Door-check



J. W. RING.

DOOR 011501;.

. (ModL) v Patented Oct. 12, 1886.

1 muunw' Eli-E Til] UNITED STATES I T rinse.-

.2 James w. RING, on 'BosroN,unassncnusnrrs.

noori-ci-ii-zc k I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.350,560, dated October 12, 16:26. Application means; t, leap. ,Srialsaints; [interim ToaZZ whom it may concern.-

Be -it known that I, JAMES Boston,-co.unty of Suffolk, State ofMassachusetts, have invented an lmprovementin Door- Ghecks, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

for automatically closing doors and checking the movement thereof beforethey reachthe I: jamb, so'as-to'prevent slamming.

the expense reduced; and the.inventiopfalso "consistsj'n'iletails ofconstruction and arrangevment of-the parts connecting thedoor, doorframe, and checking device, by which the force is transmitted to thedoors, i

7 'Instead of using a cylinder and piston having an air-tight fittherein, as heretofore pr'acticcd' in pneumatic door-checkingdevices, I

employa cylindrical air-chamber closed atone end' and provided withpacking around its other end, which is open and in connection withsaidchamber. I use-a cylindrical plunger, that works in the packing atthe open end of the air-chamber. The packing thus co-operates with aconvex surface, with which it is more easy to obtain anair-tight joint,and as there is no wear on the inner surface of the chamber, and no.necessity of having an accurate bore orinternal surface for saidchamber, it can be made .of comparatively cheap materialsuch as'ordinary tinned iron-as can 'also the plunger, which is preferablyhollow and made of commercial sheet-tinthat is, tinned iron. Apneumaticdevice of this kind can be made fully as effective as any new in use atfar less expense, both for material and construction, and if the partsare damaged or worn out they can be readilyrepaired or re placed byworkmen of ordinary skill accustomed to. making and repairing articlesof tinware, while most .of the apparatus heretofore used for door-checksinvolve machine=work of good quality, which can usually be efficientlyperformed only at the place where the appa ratus is manufactured.

My invention isembodied in an apparatus r 1-11 :iFigurel isa plan viewof'a door-closing ap- W. RING, of.

paratus'embodying this invention arranged to sothat the door in itsfirst movement in opening movcsaway from the apparatus; Fig. 2, a

operate on'the ja-mb side of the door-frame, or,

front elevaion of the apparatus shown in Fig.

1; Fig.3, a modification showing the..appathe .door, or so that thefirst movement of the door, in opening is toward the apparatus; Fig.

a modi fication of the packing of tlie'pneumatic device, Fig. 6, adetail thereof to be referred to; 'Figgl, a face and edge view of the.valve .detail on line :1; ,r, Fig. 2.

The apparatus compriscsa arms, a. a, pivotall y connected together atone extremity, and having their other extremities ,p'ivotallyconnected,theone with the doorframe A, Figs. 2 and 3, and the other withthe door D; The arm (1V is connected with the door frame by means of asupporting bracket or casting, I), provided with screw-holes I), bywhich it may be attached to the door frame A, as shown-in Fig. 2, in theposition with relation to the closed door, (best shown in Fig. 1, inwhich the door-frame is not shown,) and the said casting Z) is alsoprovided with means for attaching its base I) to the door-frame, asshown in Fig. 3, when the apparatus is to be used on the hinge side ofthe door, in which case the entire casting b is placed above the levelof the top of the door, so that the latter can swing beneath it inopening and closing, as will be readily understood. .The casting b isprovided with a pair of ears, I), which exftend to a point about midwayalong the arm a, as shown, and to which is pivoted the outer member orair chamber, 0, of the'pneumatic phecking device. The arm a is made asan open frame, as best shown in Fig. 2, and has pivotally connectedwithit, about midway of its length, the inner member 01' plunger, 0', of

ratus arranged-to operate on thehinge side of4,alo'ngitudinalsectionofthepneumaticcheck ing device; Fig. 5,;asectional detail showing.

of thepneumaticdcvice; and Fig. S,ascctio nal pair o f j'ointcd' thepneumatic device, which can thus oscilprovided with an arbor or spindle,(t which,

" arm-a, the arm a' being in the construction. shown in 2:,h'as itsjoint, asclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so Q 4 the-end of: the

pivotal bearing in ljug's of the arm a, so thatit 'canswing-freely bythe same when necessary, it being at one side of the arm a when used asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, and at the other'si'de when used asshown in Fig.3. In either arrangement the movement of the door on its hinge tends toturn the arm a on its pivot away from the ears b", thus drawing theinner member or plunger, out

' from the outer member, 0, as shown in dotted lines, the said outermember turning on its pivotal connection with the lugs b so as to remainalways in line with the inner member, and this movementalso tends toincrease the angle between the arms a a, and also to turn the other endsof the said arms with relation to their bcaringsin the directionindicated by the arrows thereon. The door may consequently be closed byany sullicient force tending to move the parts in theopposite directionto that last described-mamely, to draw the plunger 0 into the chamber 0,or to turn the arms 011 their pivots in the direction opposite to thearrows indicated thereon. This force may be provided by a spring, suchas indicated in dotted lines at d, Fig. 1, acting on a yoke, d,connected with the plunger 0, as shown, if it is desired to use a springacting in a rectilinear direction; but in practice better results areattained by using helical springs applied at the pivots of the arms a a,and tending to turn the said arms on their pivots in the properdirection. If,

desired, such springs may be used at all three of the joints of the armsa a, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and this arrangement is generallypreferable where the door is large and heavy, so that considerable forceis required to move it, it being better to apply a smaller force bymeans of a lighter spring. at each of said points than to derive thewhole power from a larger force produced by a stouter spring at oneotsaid points. WVhen, however, the door is light, a single spring willanswer, and when the apparatus is used on the jamb side of the door-thatis, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the most el'l'cctiv'e position for thespring is at the joint of the arm (I with the casting I; but when usedon the hinge side of the door, as shown in. Fig. 8, the most el't'ectiveposition is at the joint of thearm a with the casting a, connected withthe door, and in Fig. 3 this is the only joint provided with suchspring, as this will -nsua'lly be snfticient in this arrangement of theparts. The construction of the helical springs f and means by whichtheir force is applied to the memberscomlected'bythepivotal joints issubstan-.

receive a projecting finger, f, thatbears against one member connectedby the pivotsame side.

that the said member in turning carries the hnb'f' with it, and thusstrains the spring, 701

through thehub and projection ftothe n1ov;

ing member. The opposite end of therspring fiat the joint of the arm awith the bracket 1.), bears directly against the bracket, as shown.

at f 4 in Figs..1 and 2, after passing around a .h'ub-like projection,f, on the arm a, which holds the spring in proper position coaxial withthe joint. The other end of the spring j, that acts at the joint of thearms a a is con-.

nected, as shown,'-with a hub, f (see Fig. 8,)

having a'squared socket, which receives a squaredportion, a", of thespindle of the arm a, so that the said hub and spindle turn together,and the force of the spring is thus transmitted to the arm a. Thespindlea at the other end of the arm a, having its bearing in the casting c,fastened to the door, has a similarly-squared portion entering thesquared the said joints. The casting e that is conneae(l-.95

with the door is made as a case or shell, inclos-. ing the springf usedat that joint. The force of the springsf may be adjusted by turning thehubsf and placing the fingersf in dif ferent ones of the sockets f of'the saidhubs. In the construction shown in Fig. 3, where no spring isused at the joint betwecn'the arms a a, the construction of the saidjoint may be simplified by omitting the spindle a of the arm a and lug aof the arm a and connecting the arm a directly with the lug a of the arma, which is shown, as having a longitudinal slot for-adjusting theposition of the joint, as is sometimes required, owing to'the differencein the amount that the door-frame A overhangs or projects beyond thedoor. A means of adjustment of the distance between the pivotalconnection of the arm a with the door and with the arm (t is providedfor in the construe tion shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by making the arm a intwo parts, longitudinally adjustable upon one another, and beingfastened together, when the arm is adjusted to the required length, bymeans of a bolt, a, connected with one part of the arm. passing througha slot in the other part. Additional bolt-holcs may be provided, asshown in Fig. 1, to increase the range of adjustment, if need be. Theconstruction offthe pneumatic check is best shown in Figs. 4 to 7,inclusive. The outer shell or ainchamber, c, is preferably cylindriealin shape, and may be made of commercial sheet-tin shaped and united bysolderseams-in the usual. manner of working this material, as it is notnecessary that it should have a smooth or accurate internal surface,such as is required for acylinder in which a piston is to work. One endof said chamber is closed, as shown at 0', while the other end hasattached to it, by solder'o'r otherwise, a

I -cast-meta l.' ringjcfifprovid'ed with an internal,

-;;]nly,*c'onne'cted with the chat here at afslightdistance'below'it's'end, so that an annular f her part-liesalong the inner surface ofthe.

eharnber'c a'nd bears against the outer surface of the plunger 0 inSuchmanner that internal fluid-pressure between the plungerand innerwallof the chamber tends to force the inner part of the packing-washeriagainst the plunger, so as-- tojfit the same' airtight, and a at)substantially air tight packing will thus be" maintained, even if theouter surface of the plunger is not perfectly accurate or cylindrica1,so that the said plunger may, like the easing, be made cheaply 0tsheet-tin with-out im-' pairing the efiiciency of, the apparatus as a vcheck. A ring, cf,- 1n ay be employed Qto positively hold; thepackingswasher'i in place and prevent it from beingblown out by,thefluid-g.

pressure, as might happen if the cement alone were depended upon; and,ifdesired, the packing-washerneed not be bent into U shape in ICIOSSSQCtl'OlLbllb inerelyinto Z shape, as shown in Fig.6, thatthepressure of the air'hting on the plunger "0 may resist and check .the

3 5 movement of the .partsin closing the door, but

not in opening thesame. it is necessary to provide a passage-controlledbya valve opening inward into the space between the cham'-. her 0andplunger c. As shown in this inst .LIWG,

4c the end of theplungerisprovided with an opening, 1-, controlled by avalve, 1-, (see Figs. 2, 4,

and 7,) consisting of a piece of rubber or other yielding material, heldby a-springplate, 1", fastened at r to the head of the plunger. The

spring-plate permits the valve to move away from its seat on the plungersuff cient-l y to permit the air to pass l'reel y through the passagetoward theinterior of the chamber 0; but when i the pressure is greaterin the chamber tlianat 0 the outside it holds the valve tighllyseated,

so as to prevent the escape of air through the passage; 1

.In order lO iJF-OVGHBJ HIO air in the chamber ='-."fromwhollyarrcsiing'thc movmne'nt of the plunger, a slight vent is provided,which may consist o f an angular notcl1,'r,that may be made eit-lier in.tlie'val'veQi'tsel-t', as shown, or might bej nadc' in. the edge oi thevalve-scat, and toregu-late the amount of openingprovided seat thispointthe valveo-"ispreferably pivota-lly connected with. the plunger,beingshown as screwed upon a valve-rod-, 9' ,and prevented from rotatingthereon by a'che'ckwit, 1-, the said valve-rod r? being bent'at 6 itsend to provide a handle, asj shown in Figs. 2 and 4, by which it may beturned to 7 move the valve laterally and vary its position jerwi'sefastened to the in nersurfac'e of the chamber, and having 'aportion Mits 'head and shankuadjaeent thereto cut away, as

t-he outside of the chamber.

t may be held more closely over the vent passage atthe side of the'headof the screw, thus particular cgmstrnction illustrated of the de thatitwill' readily enter the mouth of the with relatifin to its seat, andthus'bringa greater or less" portion of the notch 1- over the passager,as will be readily understood .i'rom Fig.2. The valve-rod r with itshandle,

maybe used 'to turn the valve wholly away from its seat, so as to permitthe air to pass freely through the passage ,1 in either direction, iffor any reason it should not be desired 7 5 to check the movement of thedoor in closing. If desired, the air-chamber 0 may also be provided witha velit shown in Fig. 4 as made by a screw, it, having itsheadlsolderedor Oll'.

shownjto afforda passage from the inside to-- A washer, t, l placed onthe shank of the screw outside the 8 chamber, covers this opening orpassage, and maybe held'more or less tightly over the opening by meansof a nut, t", on the end of the screw t. B y turning the nut. t down thewasher dimiu'ishing'the escape of air; or, if desired, it may bewhollyclosed. In manyplacesalarmsare used in connectioqwith' oorsto-call attention to the opening of the (001'. Such an alarm may bereadily used incon'nection with this apparatus, as shown in Fig. 4,consisting ofa whistle or reed-t rn1npc t, u, or other instrumentoperated by a current of air, held inconnection with the passage 1*, asshown, so that the air passing into the chamber 0 when the plunger isdrawn out; in opening the door will flow through the alarm instrumentandcanse it to sound. A short tubular socket, u, may be fastened to theinterior of the plunger c, as shown, into which the alarm-inslrument nmay be rcadilyinserted, and from which it may be easily removed in casethe alarm is not wanted. j I

It is obvious that a pneumatic device such IIO as-herein shown anddescribed i my be used in connection with any ofthe various forms ofdoor-checks heretofore devised, and that this part of the invention isnot limited to the vices for connecting the same with the doorframe anddoor, and for closing the door. The end of the plunger is shown asrounded, so

chamber (r, when used in connection with doorchecking devicesofthatk-ind in which the piston is wholly withdrawn from the cylinder inopening the door, and such devices, when containing a. chamber andplunger such as herein shown and described, are considered to be withinthis invention.

It is obvious that the accessory.devices such, l'or instancc. as theyonneeling-arins and their springs andthe. vcnt-passageswill op-Elfitttlitlllilll): well with pneumatic devices of otherconstructionthan thats-hown, and in the sub combinations containing thesaid accessory devices other pneumatic devices-such,

for a piston and cylinderareconsideredl tube mechanical equivalents forthe 1 air-chamber andplungcr herein shown.

' 1'. .A pneumatic door-checking device comprising an air-chamber havingan open mouth provided with packing, combined with a plun ger having aworking fit in the said packing and connecting devices for saidair-chamber and plunger, by which they may be connected with thedoor-frame and door for the purpose of controlli mg the movement of thelatter,.substantially as described. 2. In a door closing and checkingapparatus, the combination of the bracket to be fastened to the dooi-frame and an air-chamber pivotally connected therewith with a pair ofarms pivotally connected together, and one pivotally connected with thesaid bracket and the other with the door, and a plunger pivotallyconnected with one of the said arms and working in the said air-chamber,substantially as described.

3. In a door-closing apparatus, the combination of abracket to befastened to the doorframe with a pair of arms pivotally connectedtogether, and one pi votall y'connccted with the said bracket and theother with the-door, and

a helical spring coaxial with the joint of the arm and bracket, actingon said arm, substantially as described.

4. The combination of theair-ehambcr closed at one end and open andprovided With'packing at its other end with a plunger having a workingfit in said packing and a passage into said chamber, and a valvecontrolling said passage and made movable laterally with re lation tothe said passage for the purpose of wholly uncovering the said passagewhen desired, substantially as and for the purpose described. 5. Apneumatic door-check comprising an,

air-chamber having an open mouth provided with packing, combined with aplungerhaving'a working fit in said packing, a passage for admittingairto said chamber and valve controlling said passage, andan'alarm-instrument operated by the air flowing into the chamber,substantially as described.

6.. In a'pneumatic door-cheek, Jan air-chatn- 5o her and plungerco-operating therewith,cush' ioned' bythe air injsaid chamber, and a,pas" sage for; admitting airjto said chamber, combinediwitlt ajvalvecooperating with the seat '1 about said: passage, being movable'towardand 5 from said seat, and also movable laterally with relation thereto,and .a vent-notch the size of which is regulated by-the lateral movementof I the valve with relation to its seat, substantially as described. V

7. In a door-closing apparatus, an arm pivotally connected with thedoor'frame and a. second arm pivotally connected with the door and tothe first-mentioned arm, combinedwith a pneumatic checking deviceco-operatingwith 6 5 the said arms and means for adjusting one of saidarms relativeto the other for the purpose of accommodating. said arms tothe doorframe and door, substantially as described.

8. In a door-closing apparatus, the combi- 7o nation of a pai r ofjointed arms, one connected with the door and the other with thedoorframe with a pair of arms pivotally connected" together, and onepivotally connected with the 8 5 said bracket and the other with thedoor, and

a helical spring coaxial with the joint of the arm and bracket, actingon said arm, and a helical spring coaxial with the pivotal joint of saidarms, substantially as described. 90

In test-imony'whereof I havesigned my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES w. RING.

